Clamp for clothesline poles



June: 26, R l GEL- 2,379,377

CLAMP FOR CLOTHESLINE POLES Filed Sept. 18, 1943 Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMP FOR CLOTHESLINE POLES Rachel B. Riegel, Yellow Springs, Ohio Application September 18, 1943, Serial No. 502,955

1 Claim.

The present invention pertains to line clamps and, more particularly, has to do with an improved clamp adapted for application to the upper end of a clothesline pole or prop for the purpose of securely uniting the line and prop together.

The ordinary prop used in efiecting the support of a clothesline, on which wet laundry is placed for drying purposes, has its upper end notched for the reception of the line. It frequently happens that the line becomes disengaged with this notch, causing the post or prop to drop and thereby allowing the wet or freshly laundered fabrics to contact the ground.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide the notched upper end of a clothesline prop with an adjustable clamping bar and wherein the bar is provided with a linereceiving notch disposed in perpendicular relation to the notch in the upper end of the prop body, whereby when the bar is actively positioned and secured against movement, the associated clothesline will be held positively in locked engagement with the upper end of the prop and prevented from becoming accidentally disengaged therewith.

It is another object of the invention to so construct my improved clamp that it may be applied as an accessory to the upper portion of a standard clothesline prop having a notched upper end.

A further object is to provide a clamp of the character set forth which is simple and efllcient in construction and easy to install on an associated prop or post.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a clothesline prop provided with the line-clamping attachment forming the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view disclosing the clamping plate of the attachment in its open position; a

Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing the plate in its closed or clamping position;

Fig. 4 is an edge elevational view, partly in vertical section;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view disclosing a slightly modified form of the invention.

In the drawing, the numeral l designates a standard clothesline prop or post, the same being substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section and having its upper end formed with a linereceiving notch 2, in which a clothesline 3 is adapted to be positioned. In association with a prop or post of this standard construction, I

employ a line-clamping attachment which comprises a flat metallic base plate 4, which may be fastened by means of screws 5 to one side of the prop adjacent to its notched upper end, the plate 4 having a notch 6 formed therein which registers with and possesses the general configuration of the prop notch 2. Projecting from the plate 4 is a stationary externally threaded stud 1, upon which is fulcrumed for pivotal movement a clamping bar 8. A wing nut t, or its equivalent, may be threaded on the stud l and upon being tightened, will hold the bar in its line-clamping position. One edge of the bar is provided with a notch ID, the major axis of which being disposed in perpendicular relationship to that of the notches 2 and 6 when the bar 8 is actively positioned.

In the use of the clamp, by loosening the wing nut 9, the bar may be oscillated to assume the inactive position disclosed in Fig. 2. This permits the associated clothesline 3 to be inserted in the notches 2 and 6 of the prop l and the base plate 4, respectively. When the line is so positioned, the bar is rocked on the stud I so that the notch in therein passes transversely across and receives within its confines the clothesline 3, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The nut 9 may then be tightened to retain the clamp in its active position.

Consideration will disclose that since the notch H) of the clamping bar extends at right angles to the notch of the prop, the clothesline will be positively retained in connection with the upper end of the prop, so that dislodging movement of the line, as in response to wind pressures, the weight of fabrics imposed on the line, and other forces, will not affect the connection. By preventing such disengagement, accidental release and dropping of the associated line cannot occur, thus overcoming a condition which often results in such soiling of freshly laundered fabrics as to require their rewashing.

It will also be noted that my improved lineclamping appliance is formed so that it provides an attachment for standard props. This permits the attachment to be manufactured and sold separately from the props as an article of hardware and does not require any alteration in the construction of the prop to admit of its application.

The base plate receives the wear which may be occasioned thereon by the movement of the pivoted clamping bar and protects the wooden body of the prop from being marred or injured thereby.

In the modified form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 5, the clothesline prop la need not be notched at its upper end. Instead, the base plate 4a is provided with an open ended notch 6a which extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the plate and in parallelism with the opposed notch Illa of the swinging keeper plate or bar 8a. The notches 6a and Illa are disposed above the upper end of the prop la. In the use of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, the clothesline 3a is first positioned in the notch 6a with the keeper plate moved to an out-of-the-way position, permitting of the insertion. Following insertion of the line 3a in the notch 6a, the keeper plate is moved to its active vertical position, with the line 3a positioned in the notch Illa. The keeper plate is then clamped in this active position, holding the line against accidental displacement.

I claim:

A line-clamping attachment for clothes props comprising a. base plate adapted for stationary attachment to the upper end of a line prop, said plate above the upper end of said prop being provided with a laterally extending notch opening at one of the side edges of the plate, a threaded stud projecting from said plate, a keeper bar mounted for pivotal/movement on said stud immediately adjacent to the front of the plate, said bar being formed with a laterally extending notch arranged for registration with the notch in the base plate, the notch in the keeper bar opening to the side edge of the latter in opposition to that of the base plate, and threaded means engaged with said stud for clamping said keeper plate in its active line-engaging position on said base plate.

4 RACHEL B. RIEGEL. 

